‘Confronting’ scenes of dead livestock, burnt landscapes

‘Confronting’ scenes of dead livestock, burnt landscapes

THE scale of fire damage to landscapes, displacement of hundreds of residents and new fears for hungry livestock are hitting home for Scenic Rim Mayor Greg Christensen.

As 50 new firefighters were dispatched to fight raging fires at Binna Burra and Beechmont yesterday, Mayor Christensen described scenes of devastation after surveying paddocks and properties that had been engulfed in flames 24 hours earlier in Canungra and Sarabah.

"I can't let myself think about the greater damage just yet," he told the Bulletin from Canungra refuge centre.

Near tears, he said earlier estimates of 4000 hectares of damage have been exceeded, reaching 5000 hectares of compromised area as of 3pm on Monday.

While no one has been killed, huge livestock losses are feared.

"We have stock that have no food for two days because their land was totally burnt out, that will start to really cause problems," Cr Christensen said.

"There are dead livestock which is confronting. There are some tragic stories, we know we are going to discover injured wildlife and significant damage to our trees.

"Some people have lost houses, I can only imagine what they have gone through," he paused, red-eyed and regained his composure.

"To lose everything that describes your life for some people will be impossible to comprehend. I believe the biggest thing we can do is maintain focus in the joy we have.

"That is the best defence we have to the pain and tragedy unfolding."

Since Thursday the region has been battling some of the worst fires many have seen in decades with fire season beginning exceptionally early.

Conditions have since worsened in some areas as with the evacuation of the O'Reilly's Rainforest retreat and the Lamington National Park late yesterday afternoon.

The fires have also put pressure on farmers in the area who are unlikely to see meaningful rain until the end of the year. For many this will mean selling livestock into an already disappointing market.

Some residents have able to return home in Binna Burra and Beechmont but were warned to remain vigilant as conditions remains volatile.